Let's Play Two (Finally)! - Nationals 10, Cubs 3

The Cubs and Nationals got underway at 7:25 CST after about an hour and a half rain delay. The rain was still coming down at the first pitch from Nationals starter Joe Ross, but the show must go on.

After a groundout from leadoff man Daniel Murphy and a flyout from Javier Báez, Anthony Rizzo singled on a soft hit to left that dropped just in front of Nationals left fielder Juan Soto. Ross followed with a hit by pitch to Kris Bryant. The Nationals were able to leave the first without any damage done, though, as Kyle Schwarber flied out to left for the third out.

Adam Eaton led off the Nats half of the first with a single to center off of Cubs starter Jon Lester. Trea Turner followed with a bouncer to third that the Cubs turned into a sleek 5-4-3 double play. The final out was recorded on a long flyout to center from Bryce Harper.

The tarp came back out with two outs in the top of the second and the game was eventually postponed. It will be made up on Saturday (September 8th) at 2:05 PM CST as part of a double header.

Update: Game One - September 8, 2018

Friday’s postponed game continued anew on Saturday with Max Scherzer on the mound for the Nationals and Jaime García for the Cubs. The makeup doubleheader did not start on time due to a two hour rain delay, with the first pitch finally happening at around 4:15 PM CST. The teams played two games back-to-back instead of the standard split doubleheader.

Scherzer struck out Daniel Murphy swinging for the first out. Tommy La Stella hit second in the order and started at third base in place of Kris Bryant, who was not in the lineup for the first game. La Stella hit a hard liner to right for a double and advanced to third on a groundout from Anthony Rizzo, but was ultimately stranded after a groundout to first from Ben Zobrist.

García, who signed a minor league contract with the Cubs on August 31 and had his contract selected when rosters expanded on September 4th, walked Nationals leadoff man Trea Turner. Anthony Rendon struck out swinging for the first out. With Bryce Harper up to bat, Turner stole second with relative ease; the throw from catcher Willson Contreras was just a bit late. Harper then followed with a walk. Turner nabbed his second stolen base of the inning and advanced to third, and Harper stole second with Mark Reynolds up to bat. Reynolds walked to load the bases. Juan Soto bounced a single past Rizzo into right field and two runs scored. García recorded only one out in his Cubs debut and was replaced by Brandon Kintzler.

Kintzler quickly recorded the second out on a popup to first from Victor Robles. Matt Wieters followed with a single, scoring Reynolds. The third out was finally recorded on a strikeout from Adrián Sanchez. The Nationals left the first inning ahead 3-0.

Jorge De La Rosa came in to pitch for the Cubs in the third and got a 1-2-3 inning. Soto grounded to first, Robles grounded to short, and Wieters grounded out to third.

De La Rosa did not allow another hit until the fifth, when Harper beat out a throw at first. De La Rosa was not able to make the out while covering first for Rizzo. Reynolds followed with a walk, but no damage was done, as Soto grounded into a 6-4-3 double play for the final outs.

Kyle Schwarber led off the sixth for the Cubs, hitting in De La Rosa’s spot, and struck out on a foul tip. Ian Happ was hit by a pitch, bringing Murphy to the plate. Murphy singled to left, but the threat was nullified after La Stella hit into a double play to end the inning.

Reliever Randy Rosario entered the game for the Cubs in the sixth and had some troubles. Robles led off with a decent bunt, but La Stella flashed some leather and left his feet to throw him out at first. Wieters walked, and Sanchez followed with a single up the middle. Scherzer bunted and Contreras made a play to third, but La Stella missed the throw. With the bases loaded, Turner walked and brought in Wieters for the RBI, bringing the score to 4-0.

Rosario was pulled and James Norwood entered the game to pitch. Rendon popped up along the first base line and Rizzo was not able to make the catch; Sanchez scored to put the Nationals ahead 5-0. The misery kept on, with another run scoring on a wild pitch with Harper at bat. Harper bounced one to Murphy second and the throw to Contreras got past him, scoring Turner. The play was scored an error on Murphy. The second out was finally recorded on a fielder’s choice from Reynolds with Harper forced out at second, scoring Rendon. Soto struck out looking to finally end the inning with the score at 8-0.

Victor Caratini pinch hit for Rizzo to lead off the seventh and recorded a single. Zobrist followed with another single and Caratini advanced to third. The Cubs finally got on the board with an RBI single from Contreras, bringing the score to 8-1. Javier Báez entered the game after a lineout from Addison Russell and quickly popped up for the final out.

Caratini stayed in to play first, Terrance Gore entered to play left, and Happ moved to right. Tyler Chatwood took the mound for the Cubs and hit Robles with a pitch. Sanchez walked and Scherzer followed with an RBI base hit. Turner grounded into a force out of Scherzer at second, scoring another run. Rendon lined out to left for the final out and the Nationals ended the inning ahead 10-1.

David Bote batted for Murphy in the eighth and struck out for Scherzer’s 10th strikeout of the night. Bote stayed in to play second and Taylor Davis replaced Contreras behind the plate in the bottom of the eighth. Chatwood was able to work a 1-2-3 inning after Reynolds grounded into a double play and Soto hit a soft groundout.

Scherzer looked to work a complete game, but the Cubs didn’t make it easy. Caratini, Gore, and Almora all recorded singles to load the bases. It was Gore’s first major league hit. Caratini scored on a sacrifice fly from Davis, and Gore scored on a single from Russell. Kris Bryant entered the game to bat in Chatwood’s spot and struck out swinging for the second out. Happ hit a high fly ball out to center to end the game at 10-3.

Comments

Don’t they have radar out in DC? They need Tommy Skillet out there to let them know that they wouldn’t get that game in - so don’t start it.

After only an inning pitched, i hope Lester can pitch again in a few days. I’d hate to think he burned a start because they can’t forecast weather in DC. I expect inefficiency in government in our nation’s capitol, but would like some competency in looking at a Doppler radar.

I blame MLB for even letting them start the game. They just blew a start by Lester which is critical at this point in the season. All I had to do was check accuweather and know they shouldn't have started(and today would have been a nice day to play 2). If any Joe blow could realize that, I'm sure MLB could've.

Big day today. Looks like we get Jaime Garcia instead of Jon Lester for the start in Game one. Could be interesting...

The rainout / doubleheader doesn't help with the Cubs current three-weeks-plus-without-a-day-off schedule. Too bad they couldn't call the game before they went to the stadium as warmups, partial game and rain delays weren't restful.

OTOH, a good day for the good guys and a bad day for the Brew Crew could do wonderful things for the Magic Number.

Do they get to have Mills because of having to play 2 games? I know he had to wait the 10 days per rules under the normal circumstances, but having burned 1 pitcher there should be a stipulation to allow it. Once rosters expand that rule “should” be thrown out anyway... it doesn’t really make any sense.

Yeah, I get that. Mills is due back soon anyhow, the 10 days is almost up. But it would have been nice to have him to piggy back onto Garcia if he can’t go but a few innings. Maybe Garcia will surprise us & have a good game. Probably gonna be a bullpen game in 1st one. Hamels game 2 hopefully only need 1 set up & 1 closer max.